Contra Costa County Biography
HARRY FREMONT SPENCER
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006.
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
Harry Fremont Spencer is one of the public-spirited and progressive business men
of Contra Costa County, his activities extending to many fields. He was born in
York County, Maine, on June 13, 1856. He was educated in New Hampshire, where
his parents removed when he was young. His father, William M. Spencer, was a
native of New Hampshire born in the White Mountains, and died at Salmon Falls in
1861. He was largely identified with the manufacturing interests of his native
State. Mr. Spencer's mother was also a native of New Hampshire, and died in
1908. The subject of this sketch, after receiving his education, entered the
cotton mills at Lawrence, Massachusetts, with which he was identified until he
came to California, in 1877. Locating at Bryant Station in Contra Costa County,
he took up ranching, and became connected with Major Bryant, of San Francisco,
remaining here for one year. He then removed to Livermore, California, where he
was united in marriage to Miss May Smith, on November 29, 1883. To this union
the children are Raymond, born December 7, 1887, and Guy Fremont, born April 7,
1896. Mrs. Spencer's father was one of the representative men of Alameda County,
and took a great interest in everything that was for the betterment of the
country. He was active in moving the county seat to San Leandro, and later to
Oakland. Mr. Spencer resided in Pacheco for a period of six years, and was
identified with the California & Hawaiian Sugar Refining Company as
superintendent. In 1910 he removed to Walnut Creek, and in 1911 he started a
lumber-yard and erected warehouses for hay and grain. Later S. L. Ayer became
associated with him. In March, 1915, he took over the interests of Mr. Ayer, and
the firm's name now is Spencer & Ayer, Inc. Mr. Spencer was elected president of
the Business Men's Association of Walnut Creek on May, 1913, and re-elected in
May, 1914, and when the town was incorporated, on May 18, 1914, he was elected
mayor for a four-year term. Mr. Spencer only follows the fairest methods. He has
discharged all obligations laid upon him by the people of his locality, and has
fulfilled expectations which the people had in him when they entrusted their
interests to his care. Mr. Spencer is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity,
being a member and a past master of Alamo Lodge No. 122. He is a past worthy
patron of Alamo Chapter, order of Eastern Star. His son Raymond is a
thirty-second-degree Mason, and a graduate of Cornell University, and has been
identified with the Government as superintendent of the Government building at
Santa Barbara, California.
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California", Elms Publ. Co., 1917,
pp. 465 - 466.